WARREN GATLAND is heading for another club-v-country row, with Wales’ regions ready to take the WRU to court over player-release for the first Autumn Test against New Zealand.

Regional Rugby Wales has announced it will take legal action against the WRU over the November 7 clash with New Zealand, claiming the governing body has not been granted permission for player-release for the clash.

The WRU has been accused by RRW of operating a "master and slave relationship", with the regions calling for the governing body to adopt a "partnership approach to the running of the professional game in Wales".

An excerpt from a statement by the RRW read:

"The WRU's executive continues to treat the Welsh Regions with little more than contempt and displays a glaring lack of understanding as to the pressures and detail of professional rugby in the modern age.

"Time and again, the executive fails to consult the Regions on significant matters that materially affect the professional game and demonstrates an ever increasing level of arrogance.

"Most recently, this has involved the Union seeking to unilaterally arrange additional international and touring fixtures that sit outside of any IRB regulation and without any reference to, let alone agreement with, the Welsh Regions."

"Specifically, the WRU has announced a fourth Autumn International fixture and has, unimaginably, invited the Regions, in writing, to take legal action against the Union if there is any objection. As a result, RRW has been left with little option but to face the Union's threats head on and take the WRU at its word.

"After being successfully granted an emergency hearing on Friday (3/7/09) in the High Court, RRW today served the WRU with an order to force a full High Court trial before a fourth Autumn International can take place, without the Regions' express permission.

"It is our sincere hope that this will provide some much-needed focus in any future discussions and, if any sense is to prevail, encourage the Union to finally adopt a partnership approach to the running of the professional game in Wales. Our overriding desire is to see Welsh rugby succeed at every level but, in order to do so, this must involve the start of a genuine partnership and not simply the approach of a master to his slave.

"RRW is committed to not only pursuing best practice in the professional game, but to also ensuring Wales has the competitive advantage and the type of innovative approach to remain a top level force in world rugby. But the game of rugby is rapidly changing shape and the levels of development required to successfully compete at the highest level are increasing exponentially.

These challenges have to be recognised and addressed in partnership if Wales and its Regions are to continue to flourish and succeed."

The announcement follows a similar row over player-release last Autumn, with head coach Gatland threatening to quit before the WRU won the court case on that occasion.

Yesterday the WRU refuted the RRW allegations and said it was surprised by the RRW statement.

The statement from the WRU said: "The WRU is very surprised that the Regions chose to issue a Press statement at 12.17pm on Monday, 6 July.

A statement read: "The WRU is very surprised at the suggestion that the negotiations between the WRU and the four Regional organisations have,’ in reality, not only stalled, but failed,’ since negotiations have proceeded in good faith since the four Regional Organisations elected to renew the existing Participation Agreement for a further five years from June 1, 2009.

"Indeed at the last meeting on June 12, 2009, a further meeting was arranged for 17 July to discuss the very topics which the Regions refer to in their Press statement.

The Regions have not advised the WRU that the July 17 meeting is not proceeding as planned.

"In relation to player release this is governed by the Participation Agreement which has been renewed in return for substantial payments." It provides for greater player release than under IRB Regulation 9. Regulation 9 gives basic release for which the WRU would not have to make any payment. So far as the fourth Autumn international against New Zealand is concerned the WRU's right to stage this is enshrined in the Participation Agreement.

Given the problems which the WRU faced in relation to last seasons Autumn international it was felt prudent to ask the Regions to set forward any contrary view on the WRU's entitlement and this was therefore raised on February 5, 2009.

The Regional Organisations made no substantive response, despite repeated requests, and so the WRU felt it had no alternative but to write to the Regions on June 8, requiring the dispute to be settled through mediation and proposing an eminent QC as mediator. The Regions replied on June 17 raising a query and seeking clarification before the Regions replied formally to the WRU request for either mediation or a declaration.

A full response was sent on behalf of the WRU on June 26 but the Regional Organisations chose not to reply formally, but instead decided, without the courtesy of notifying the WRU, to resort to court proceedings on July 3. The existence of these proceedings were only brought to the attention of the WRU about an hour before the Regions' Press statement was issued. The WRU does not understand the Regions emotive assertion that the WRU made any threats.

It is also of interest that the four Regions have all taken up their full ticket allocation for the New Zealand game.

The WRU has invested heavily in all aspects of the game, in particular, the Regions.

"The WRU does not recognise the so-called ‘master and slave’ relationship," the statement continued.

"The relationship is the one agreed by the Regions when they took up Regional rugby."

The WRU, however, seeks to protect rugby in general and its substantial investment.

It should be noted that within the current negotiations the WRU has significantly enhanced its proposed agreement with the Regions and, in return, have asked the Regions to compromise in areas such as the employment of non-Welsh qualified players."